Combination tool



May 12, 1931. w. E. PHILLIPS COMBINATION TOOL Filed April 8. 1929 INVENTOR.

llllf/zblbf ATTORNEYS Patented May 12, 1931 PATEN o m WILLIAM E. PHILLIPS, OF LA GRESCENTA,"CALIFORNIA COMBINATION TOOL Applicationv filed'April 8, 1929. Serial No. 353,479.

My invention relates to and has for a purpose the provision of a tool of simple, substantial and relatively inexpensive construe vtion embodying a plurality of instruments such as an awl and a screw driver for example, either of which can be firmly supported in a position for use while the other occupies a non-obstructing position, all in such manv ner as to permit the instruments to be changed about i and secured against accidental displacement with the utmost ease and dispatch, thus providing a self contained tool by which the driving of wood screws in relatively hard materials will be greatly facilitated. i

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide a combination tool embodying a holder with which the-instruments are detachab'ly associated in a manner to permit removal of the instruments with the utmost ease'and their replacement with other forms of instruments for performing various operations.

I Willdescribe only one form of combination tool embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in "claims.

1 Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views taken respectively on the lines.

4 4= and 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate similarparts in each of the several views, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a handle member designated generally at M, having a portion 10 thereof preferably formed of wood and shaped to" be conveniently gripped in the hand; From the portion 10 projects a shank 11 receiving a metal 'ferrulelZ. The ferrule is either a force fit on the shank or may be otherwisepermfl/ pin 21 rotatably mounted in the holder H nently secured to the latter. The ferrule is cup shaped to provide a cap portion 13 00v ering the outer extremity of the shank 11; and to render the handlemember hollow to receive an instrument holder H the portionv ing in the portion 10 in a second and reduced instrument receiving bore 15 to provide an annular shoulder 16 between the two bores constituting an abutment functioning in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The holder H is in the form of an open ended metal tube'17 of such uniform diameter throughout its length as to have a sliding fit within the bore 15 and to thus be capable of insertion from either end into the bore. The holder provides a support for a plurality of instruments such as an awl A and a screw driver S for example, the awl and screw driver having identical cylindrical shanks 18. and 18 respectively, freely insertable into the holder from its ends.

To detachably connect the instrumentsto the holder so as to permit their removal for the substitution of other instruments, their shanks18 and 18 are provided respectively with slots 19 and 19 extending longitudinally and diametrically from the outer ends of the shanks and terminating at their closed ends in enlarged portions 20 and 20 of circular contour;

' i The holder H is provided with two locking 7 devices, bothof identical construction, and each adapted to co-act with the slotted portions of the shanks 18-or 18 in a manner to detachably connect" the respective instruments,.so that a description of one locking device will sufiice for both. To distinguish,

"theparts of one locking device from those of the other, the numerals designating the parts i of one device are provided with exponents.

Each locking device comprises a locking transversely and diametrically thereof, and having acylindrical head 22 seating in a pocket 23 in the holder so that the headed end of thepin will be disposed within the outer diameter of the holder. The opposite end of the pin is r d ced and of angular form as in- L dicated at 24 to which is fixed by swaging or other suitable means an actuator in the form of an operating arm 25 by which the pin can be rotated. That portion of the length of the pin spanning the inner diameter of the holder is flattened as indicated at 26 by cutting away portions of its periphery at diametrically opposed points so that when the pin is rotated 90 from the position shown in Fig. 1, its flattened portion is presented edgewise to and capable of passing freely through the-relatively narrow slot 19 or 19 of the respective instrumentshank 18 or 18 and then into the enlarged portion or 20. However upon rotating the pin to the position shown in Fig. :1, ,the flattened portion 260i the pin will coact with the enlarged portion 20 or 2O whichever the case may be,to securely lock the respective instrument in a, fixed position in the holderwith the working partof the instru- -ment projecting axially from an extremity of the holder.

In the position wherein theinstrumentsare locked in the holder, the operatingarms and 25 for the respective locking pins 21 and 21 are disposedparallel withthe length of the holder as shown in Fig. 1 and are received in. alongitudinal groove 27 formed in the handle memberwhen the holder is inserted from one enduor the other into the handle member, so that the arms and .hence the pins will be locked againstaccidental rotation, to insure that the instruments cannot become de- .tached from the holder during use.

lVith the holder inserted into the handle member as shown in Fig. 1, one of the instruments A or S will be received in the axial bore 15 so as to be disposed within the handle member, while the other will project from the latter for use. It will be clear that the holder is thus reversible in the handle member end forend to expose either instrument for use. -Inthe .position shown in Fig. 1, the inner end of the holder abuts the shoulder 16 so as to definitely limit the inward movement of the holder; andto detachably secure the holder to the handle member with either instrument exposed from the latter for use,the holder is provided with a lateral projection in the tormofa pin 28 extending transversely and {diametrically through the holder medially .be-

tween its ends and projecting at one end from the outer periphery of the holder as shown in iFigs. 1 and3 for co-action with a socket mem- 28 :passes freely through afsecond longitudinal groove 30 formed in the handle member diametrically; opposite to the. groove, 27.

1 The socket member 29 is- ;providedwith a cylindrical pocket 31 havinga side entrance opening :32: adapted to be so 'alined; withthe pin-28 upon suitably rotating thesocketmem- -C-5 .iber, asto permit-the pin topass throughthe opening into the pocket when the holder is inserted from one end or the other into the handle member. However, when the socket member ispartially rotated from this position it will be clear that withdrawal of the holder from the handle member will be posi tively prevent-ed as any effort to withdraw the holder will cause the pin to abut the side wall of the pocket 31 in the socket member.

To provide means for actuating the socket member 29, an operating lever 33 is fixed thereto exteriorly thereof? and is of resilient material such as spring tempered metal so as to. be normally urged against the periphery of the ferrule 12, which latter is provided with recesses 34 and 35, into-either of which the lever 33 is adaptedto snap and be releasably retained to latch thesocket member against rotation. With the: socket member latched in the positionshown in Fig. 1, the holder H will besecured in fixed position in. the handle member against withdrawal from the latter due to the co-action ot the pin 28 and the side wall of the pocket 31 of tie-socket member; whereasuponrotation of the socket member 180 from this ,position by correspondingly rotatingthe lever so that the latter .will snap intotherecess 35, the holder can be withdrawnfrom the handle member as the pin 28 is free tobe withdrawn from the pocket 31 through its side entrance opening 32. It is'tov be noted 7 that in applying the holderH with the instruments A and S to the handle member,M, the actuators 25 and 25a are first rotated .to positions parallel to the length of the holder, as shown in Figure 1, so that the pins 21 and 21a maintain the respective instruments connected to the holder. The holder, is now inserted into the handle member sothat the ac- 1, for co-action of the pin 33 with thewsocket member 29 in securing the .holderto the handle member. The holder is freefor removal from the handle member upon rotating the operating lever 83, 180 degreesfrom the position shown in Figure 1; and after the holder has been removedfrom thehandle member, the actuators 25and 25a are free to V be rotated so as to permit the instruments-A and S to be detached 'fromthe holder.

. From the foregoing description it will be I manifest. that-with two instruments suchas theawl A and. screw driver s secured in the holder as illustrated 1n--F1g. 1, that either 51 11- strument canbe supported from the handle member in an exposed positionffor: use,'.by

the simple operation of reversing the; holder end for. end in; the holder, and that :the latter can be-latchedand unlatched in either position by. simply-rotating the lever33=until that the instruments can be readily detached from the holder andother instruments (not 'member in either of the positions of the holder.

Although I have herein shown and describedonly one form ofcombination tool embodying my invention, it is to be under: stood that various changes and modifications may be made-therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and'the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 7

I claim:

1. A tool comprising a hollow handle member, a holder having instruments on opposed extremities thereof and insertable from one extremity or the other into the handle member to accordingly dispose one instrument in the latter and expose the other instrument in a position for use or vice versa, and means for securing the holder in the handle member in either of its positions, comprising a projection on the holder, and a socket member movably mounted on the handle member and having an entrance opening through which the projection is insertable into the socket member when occupying one position, the projection abutting a wall of the socket member when occupying another position, to thereby prevent withdrawal of the holder from the handle member. p

2. A tool comprising a hollow handle member, a holder having instruments on opposed extremities thereof and insertable from one extremity or the other into the handle member to accordingly dispose one instrument in thelatter and expose the other instrument in 'a position for use or vice versa, and means for securing the holder in the handle member in either of its positions, comprising a projection on the holder, a socket member movably mounted on the handle member and having an entrance opening through which the'projection is insertable into the socket member when occupying one position, the projection abutting a wall of the socket member when occupying another position, to thereby prevent withdrawal of the holder from the handle member, means for actuating the socket member, and means for releasably retaining the socket member in either of its above mentioned positions.

3. A tool comprising a hollow handle member, a holder having instruments on opposed extremities thereof and insertable from one extremity or the other into the handle member to accordingly dispose one instrument in the latter and expose the other instrument in a position for use or vice versa, and means for securing the holder in the handle member in either of its positions, comprising a projection on the holder extending laterally beyond the latter, and a socket member mounted on: the handle member for rotation'about'an axis at ,an angle to the length of the handle member and having an entrance opening so disposed in one position of the socket member as to permit insertionof the projection into the socket member, and so disposed in another position of-the socket member as to prevent withdrawal of the projection from the socket members 1 4. tool comprising a hollow'handle member, aholder having instruments on opposed extremities thereof and insertable fromone extremity "or the .other into the handle member to accordinglydispose one instrumentin the latter and expose the other instrument in a position for use or vice versa, and meansfor securing the holder in the handle member in either of its positions, comprising a: lateral projectionon the holder, a socket member rotatably mounted on the handle member and having an entranceopening so-disposed in one position of the socket member as to permit insertion of the projection into the socket member, and so disposed in another position 0 of the socket member as to prevent withdrawal of the projection from the socket member, a resilientlever fixed to the socket member for rotating the latter, and recesses in the handle member receiving the lever, in

said positions of the socket-member to latch thelatter against rotation.

5. A tool comprising a holder for a plu- V rality of instruments, means for detachably connecting a plurality of instruments to the holder to project from opposite extremities of the latter, a handle member into which one extremity or the other of the holderis insertableto 'disposeone instrument in the handle member and expose the other instrument from the handle member in a position for use or vice versa, means for securing the holder to the handle memberin' eitherposition of the holder, the first means including actuators, and the handle member being provided with means co-acting with the actuators to-omaintain the latter in positions whereinthe instruments are maintained connected :to the holder by the first means.

V 6... A tool comprising a tubular open ended holderinto the opposite-ends of which instruments are adapted to be'inserted to project from the ends of theholder, rotatable means in the holder-adapted to co-act with sition for use, means for-securing the holder to the handle member in either position of the holder, and means on the handle member coacting with the rotatable means to lock the latter against rotation when the holder is secured in the handle member, to prevent detachmentof the instruments from the holder.

7. A tool comprising a tubular open ended holder, a pair of instruments having shanks insertable into the holder, the shanks being a longitudinally slotted from one extremity and the slots having enlarged portions, looking members rotatably mounted in the holder and co-acting with said enlarged portions of the slots When the members are rotated to one position, to lock the respective instruments to the holder, arms fixed to the locking members exteriorly of the holder for rotating the look ing members, a handle member into which one end or the other of the holder is insertable to dispose one instrument or the other in the handle member and expose the other instrument from the latter for use, means for detachably securing the holder to the handle member, and means on the handle member for preventing rotation of the arms when the holder is secured to the handle member.

8. A tool comprising a tubular open ended holder, a pair of instruments shaving shanks insertable into the holder, the shanks being longitudinally slotted from one extremity and the slots having enlarged portions, locking members rotatably mounted in the holder and co-acting with said enlarged portions of the slots when the members are rotated to one position, to lock the respective instruments to the holder, arms fixed to the locking members exteriorly of the holder for rotating the locking members, a handle member into which one end or the other of the holder isinsertable to dispose one instrument or the other in the handle member and expose the other instrument from the latter for use, and means for detachably securing the holder to the handle member, comprising a lateral projection on the holder intermediate its ends and extending laterally beyond the latter, a socket member mounted on the handle member for rotation about an axis at an angle to the length of the handle member and having an entrance opening so disposed in one position of the socket member as to permit insertion of the projection into the latter, and so disposed in an other position of the socket member that the latter will prevent Withdrawal of the projection, and means for rotating the socket member to either of its positions.

9. A tool comprising a tubular open ended holder, a pair of instruments having shanks lnsertable into the holder, the shanks being longitudinally slotted from one extremity and the slots having enlarged portions, locking members rotatably mounted in the holder and co-acting with said enlarged portions of the slots when the members are rotated to one position, to lock the respective instruments to the holder, arms fixed to the locking members exteriorly of the holder for rotatingthe looking members, ahandle member into which one end orthe other of the holder is insertable to dispose one instrument or the other in the handle member and expose the other instrument from the latter for use, and means for detachably securing the holder to the handle member, comprising a lateral projection on the holder intermediate its ends, a socket member rotatably mounted on the handle member and having an entrance opening so disposed in one position of the socket member as to permit insertion of the projection into the latter, and so disposed in another position of the socket member that the latter Will prevent Withdrawal of the projection, a resilient leverfixed to the socket member, for

rotating the latter, and recesses in the handle member receiving the resilient lever in said positions of the socket member to latch the latter against rotation. I

10. A tool comprising a handle member, a tool holder insertible into the handle member and having a projection extending laterally therefrom, and a socket member mounted on the handle member forrotation about an axis angularly disposed with respect to the length of the handlev member, the socket member having an entrance opening so disposed in one position of the socket member as to permit insertion of the projection into-the socket member, and so disposed in another position of the socket member that withdrawal of the projection from the socket member will be prevented.

11. A tool comprising a holder for a plurality of instruments, means for detach ably conneeting a plurality of instruments to the holder to project from opposite extremities of the latter, a handle member into which one extremity or the other of the holder is insertible to dispose one instrument in the handle member and expose the other instrument from the handle member in a position for use or vice versa, means for securing the holder to the handle member in either position of the holder, the first means including actuators, and the handle member being provided with a groove receiving the actuator to maintain the latter in predetermined position for the purpose described.

WILLIAM E. PHILLIPS. 

